Andrew Dickson reports from Tannadice

KRIS BOYD scored against Dundee United yet again to salvage a point for Rangers on Tayside and keep their championship bid on track.

The former Kilmarnock hitman netted twice against the Arabs in last month's CIS Cup final before hitting the winner in a penalty shoot-out.

And he made his mark once more during a game in which Gers had to come from behind three times to earn a hard-fought draw with their opponents.

That brings Boyd's career goals tally against United to 18 for the Ibrox outfit and former club Killie.

Far more importantly, his strike has extended Rangers' lead over Old Firm rivals Celtic at the top of the SPL table to seven points with a game in hand.

This 3-3 draw bring Walter Smith's side's excellent run of 13 consecutive league wins to an end, with their last dropped points coming at Pittodrie in December.

But after Celts lost 1-0 again yesterday, this time to Motherwell at Parkhead, there is little doubt Gers remain in the ascendancy.

Rangers struggled to find their form against Sporting Clube on Thursday and for that reason, Smith made four changes to his side.

Steven Davis, Jean-Claude Darcheville and Kirk Broadfoot all dropped to the bench while Brahim Hemdani was left out altogether.

Playing in their places were Christian Dailly at right-back, Steven Whittaker in front of him in midfield and Boyd and Nacho Novo up front.

Gers' last domestic defeat came more than five months ago at Tannadice, when Daniel Cousin's penalty wasn't enough to stop them losing 2-1.

Just as they had at Hearts a few weeks ago after losing there in the first months of the season, the Light Blues returned looking to respond to an earlier setback with a victory.

Yet it was United who had the first chance, with Noel Hunt getting above Sasa Papac to head Morgaro Gomis' deep cross just past the post.

Mark de Vries also went close as he turned David Robertson's low cross goalwards but Allan McGregor gathered the ball comfortably.

Rangers produced little at the other end initially, with Novo driving over from 25 yards after Lee Wilkie's mistake.

United were having the bulk of possession in the opening stages but any time they looked like breaching the away defence, Carlos Cuellar was there to stop them.

Gers almost sickened them further through Lee McCulloch, who sent a looping half-volley over home goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska and off the top of the bar.

But the Arabs took a deserved lead after 37 minutes when Boyd conceded a soft free kick for a foul on Willo Flood.

The Irishman floated the set piece in and it seemed Rangers had got lucky when McGregor saved Darren Dods' header and Christian Kalvenes hit the post.

That was, at least, until Norwegian defender Kalvenes reacted quicker than anyone else to prod in the rebound and hand his side the initiative.

It took the Light Blues less than six miuntes to respond, with Boyd again involved as another free kick was given away.

This time he was the man fouled by Dods on the right touchline and when Barry Ferguson lifted the ball in, David Weir soared highest to nod in the leveller.

It was only his second goal for the club and his first in the league, following the opener he struck against FK Zeta in a Champions League qualifier last July.

United hit back after the break and McGregor saved from Hunt but he could do nothing to stop Craig Levein's men going in front six minutes on from the restart.

Kalvenes crossed deep from the left to Sean Dillon at the back post and it seemed he was going to shoot.

But he clipped a clever ball back across the face of goal and Hunt, a scorer in last month's CIS Cup final against Gers, netted again.

Back came Gers once more, with Novo nodding just over after Christian Dailly flicked on Ferguson's free kick.

The captain then had a chance himself after the Spaniard set him up but his shot from a tight angle flashed right across goal and agonisingly wide.

With the Light Blues piling pressure on, it seemed it wouldn't take long for them to equalise and they did just that on 57 minutes.

McCulloch's pinpoint pass released Novo and he burst clear of the home defence to round Zaluska and tap in to make it 2-2.

A similar move gave Boyd sight of goal as Gers tried to take a lead themselves but Zaluska beat him to the ball.

He only succeeded in clearing to Novo but after the Spaniard surged past him on the outside, his shot from distance was weak and easily gathered.

That miss soon proved costly as United went ahead once more, with Cuellar uncharacteristically putting another Dillon cross into his own net.

But the spirit this Gers side is showing at the moment is incredible and as the game lurched into the final quarter, they restored parity for a third time.

Flood was at fault as he passed back to Zaluska, only to see Boyd latch on to the ball and stroke home off the post.

A thrilling match was swinging from end to end and it was still anyone's to win with 20 minutes remaining.

Novo thought he had clinched it for Gers with a cracking swivel and volley but Zaluska saved superbly and McCulloch had a header cleared off the line.

Smith went for broke and threw on a third striker in Darcheville, with last week's matchwinner Kevin Thomson making way.

But United had the better opportunities, with Weir clearing a Gomis shot, Wilkie heading over and Jon Daly on target from long range but failing to threaten.

Robertson also thought he had done enough to keep the points at Tannadice but McGregor produced a top-drawer save to deny him.

In the end, each team had to settle for a point and despite not winning, the result takes Gers a step closer to their 52nd championship win.

RANGERS: McGregor, Dailly, Weir, Cuellar, Papac, Whittaker, Ferguson, Thomson (Darcheville 74), McCulloch, Novo, Boyd (Naismith 88).

Subs: Alexander, Davis, Broadfoot, Lennon, McMillan.

DUNDEE UNITED: Zaluska, Dillon, Wilkie, Dods, Kalvenes, Robertson, Flood, Kerr, Gomis, Hunt, de Vries (Daly 64).

Subs: McLean, Grainger, O'Brien, Conway, Kovacevic, Buaben.

Referee: Charlie Richmond.